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Millions of tons of water from desalination plants will be pumped into Israel’s rivers this year in an effort to revitalize the country’s depleted natural water resources, Israel Hayom reported on Wednesday.

Some 29 million cubic meters of water will be diverted in rivers, nearly twice the 15 million cubic meters released in 2011.

Minister for Energy and Water Resources Uzi Landau announced the project at the third annual conference for Green Economy in Ramat Gan.

“We all held out breath at the withered Kinneret but now it is important to take a concerned look at the dried out rivers,” Landau said. “The Kinneret is considered the heart of the water infrastructure, but the rivers are its arteries.”

Some 20 percent of Israel’s waste is released into the country’s rivers as a result of malfunctions and poor maintenance. The river rejuvenating waters in the planned project will come from desalination plants that convert sea water into potable water.